I remember saying it wasn't bad, but...... and another friend said, well.......it was.....pretty good? That is when Star Wars naitivity began to set in the fanbase. Instead of just saying whether it was a good or bad movie, like every frickin movie you see in our lives, we had to justify our answers with a but....
Here were the justifications on the ride home for us:
1. Well, it is the first movie, and a setup movie for the next two, he can't give us too much plot.
Rebuttal: Fellowship of the Ring that was a setup of three movies, they were able to advance the plot pretty well in that movie.
2. Anakin has to be nine years old, we have to see him as a cute kid.
Rebuttal: 20 minute flashback scene
3. It is kinda kiddy, but it isn't suppose to be dark until Episode III
Rebuttal: That doesn't mean you have to make it for 5 year olds!
4. Jar Jar.........We were all annoyed from day one about him, there was no rebuttal because he was annoying the minute he walked on screen. What the hell was Lucas thinking, he is the worst character in the history of movies
After AOTC, our justification was that it wasn't a great movie, but it was better than TPM. Now looking back, AOTC is another average movie, that could have been better.
Finally, ROTS to me was the only good prequel movie, but I can understand why older fans like myself don't like it or love it. They were burned for 2 movies, and by then, were so poisoned by Lucas, ROTS didn't have a chance. Plus the bad turn scene, and Padme dying of the will to live, it didn't help matter either.
Overall, Lucas to me never made lovable characters in the PT, and putting aside the failing of the movies, the characters were the #1 failure. I should have loved Padme & Anakin, and when their fates were sealed at the end of ROTS, I should have really felt for them as she died, and he was stuck in this body of armor for the rest of his life.
Anakin, should have been like a great athlete who is a wildcard, but was loved by the people and not necessarily loved by the Jedi. Lucas should have shown Anakin being heralded for being the top jedi during the Clone Wars, being the Michael Jordan of the galaxy, but his arrogance, like many star athletes, and their belief that they are indestructable, are the reasons for their downfall. Show him learn even greater powers from Palpatine, and make the audience feel that Anakin loves the darkside, but knows it is wrong deep down inside. Have the dream of Padme as a subplot, just something else to drive him there, not the sole reason. Anakin never turned to the darkside, he just wanted to save Padme, that was a real lame reason.
Sorry about the rant off topic, but once I start thinking of what if for the PT, I could go on and on......